Baitakkol

Baitakkol (Kazakh: Байтақкөл; Russian: Байтакколь),[1][2] is a lake in Yrgyz District, Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan.[3][4]

Baitakkol
Байтақкөл
Baitakkol and adjacent lakes Sentinel-2 image
Baitakkol is located in Kazakhstan
Baitakkol
Baitakkol
LocationTurgay Depression
Coordinates48°41′25″N 62°09′00″E
TypeFloodplain lake
Primary outflowsTurgay
Basin countriesKazakhstan
Max. length23 kilometers (14 mi)
Max. width1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi)
Surface area52.3 square kilometers (20.2 sq mi)
Max. depth3 meters (9.8 ft)
Residence timeUTC+5:00
Shore length1ca 70 kilometers (43 mi)
Surface elevation76 meters (249 ft)
IslandsNone
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The nearest inhabited locality is Belcher, located 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) to the north of the northern end of the lakeshore.[3] The area surrounding the lake is arid, featuring an extremely continental climate and cold winters with little snowfall. Summers are hot with strong winds.[5]

Geography

Baitakkol lies in the southern part of the Turgay Depression at 76 meters (249 ft) above sea level. It is a long lake, the largest of the group of lakes in the valley of the lower Turgay.[6] It is roughly aligned from SW to NE, in the same direction as smaller lakes and salt pans nearby. Lake Keltekol (48°40′N 62°10′E) lies to the south of the central part. The northwestern end of the lake connects via an intermittent channel with the right bank of the Turgay, which flows southwards to the east of the lake cluster.[7][3]

Baitakkol is a floodplain lake that is filled during the spring floods of the Turgay river. During that period the water becomes fresh. After the spring flood is over, water flows back towards the Turgay river through the channel at the northeastern end. In the dry seasons the lake shrinks and its water turns brackish.[7]

In recent years the lake has become critically shallow owing to lack of floodwater inflow.[8]

Fauna

There are reedbeds along the lakeshore and sedges grow in the floodplain meadows. Baitakkol is a key refuge for aquatic birds, including the critically endangered siberian crane.[5][7]

See also

References
  1. "қазақстан республикасының мемлекеттік жіктеуіші - КЛАССИФИКАТОР АДМИНИСТРАТИВНО – ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНЫХ ОБЪЕКТОВ" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  2. Площадь озер Казахстана (Таблица)
  3. Google Earth
  4. "M-41 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  5. Atlas of Key Sites for the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds in Western/Central Asia
  6. Lakes of Aktobe region.
  7. Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia, Vol, 2 / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0(T.Z.),ISBN 9965-893-19-5
  8. «Kazakhstan Today» (www.kt.kz) В Актюбинской области Иргизско-Торгайская система озер оказалась под угрозой исчезновения
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